Alas, the statistics are relentless - up to half a million citizens of our country are annually attacked by a tick. Literally at the beginning of the season of tick activity, the number of bitten ones begins to grow exponentially ...
Actually, our specialists are regularly asked the same questions, which every year, as on schedule, have to be answered over and over again. This page will collect all the information you are interested in on the question: “ If bitten by a tick, what to do and where to go". Format: Question-answer.
If bitten by a tick: answers to important questions
— I was bitten by a tick, What should I do now?
Answer: For a start - don't panic. A tick is not a poisonous snake and no one will kill you in 30 minutes. It is very important to get together and realize that further actions must obey certain rules. A) We remove the tick () or go to the hospital, where they will help you to remove it; B) Find the nearest medical facility (use a search engine to find it in your city); we take the tick for analysis to the laboratory (we again use the search engine or a certificate in the nearest hospital); C) Regardless of the result - follow the doctor's direction.
- How do I know if there is an encephalitis tick that bit me?
Answer: looking at him - no way. We need a laboratory. You can find it by calling the city emergency department, where they will definitely tell you where to go. The laboratory will conduct a study of the tick you previously removed and tell you what to do next.
Important! Never rely on chance. Every year there are only more encephalitis ticks.
- The tick just managed to suck, I don't care to go to the hospital?
Answer: Unfortunately, yes. The infection is transmitted by the tick's saliva, which it injects under the skin to start feeding. Even if he just bit you, it's still enough to get the required dose of pathogens. The most dangerous diseases transmitted by a bite are: tick-borne encephalitis, Tick-borne borreliosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and others. ...
— I didn't go to the doctor and after a couple of weeks I felt unwell, what should I do?
Answer: it is not a fact that these are direct consequences of a tick bite, but you really need to rush to the hospital.
- I removed the tick, and the bite site turned red. Is it an infection?
Answer: No. Most likely a common allergic reaction to the bite. The body of each person reacts differently to invasions from the outside. Most often, redness and the so-called occur around the tick bite. However, this does not mean that you should not go to the doctor and don’t need to take the tick for analysis in the laboratory.
- Redness after the bite first disappeared, but then reappeared and hurt more, what should I do?
Answer: Most likely, the bite is accompanied by the appearance of a migrating annular erythema at the site of penetration - this is a viral or, rather, bacterial dermatosis of unknown etiology. Treatment is with broad-spectrum antibiotics, but it is best to see a doctor first.
- I handed over the tick for analysis, now what?
Answer: The timing at the end will be said directly where the tick was taken. Usually it is no more than two days.
- I was told that the tick was infected🙁 H what to do ?
Answer: Seek medical attention immediately. He will give all the necessary recommendations and prescribe the necessary medications. The most commonly used are iodantipyrine and immunoglobulin.
- Received the results of the analysis: the tick is infected. Should I go to donate blood for tests?
Answer: It is necessary to donate blood after only about 10 days, because you are not sick yet. The virus takes time to get stronger and break down your body's defenses. You may not even get sick. Check with your healthcare professional.
- Foolishly threw out a tick, what to do?
Answer: Not earlier than 10 days later you need to test the blood for tick-borne encephalitis using the PCR method. Two weeks later - for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne encephalitis virus. For accurate information, contact the medical institutions in your city.
- I was bitten by a tick, but I was vaccinated against encephalitis, what should I do?
Answer: Nothing, you already have immunity. Remove the tick from the body and treat the bite.
- I was put on immunoglobulin of tick-borne encephalitis, but two weeks later I was bitten by a tick again at the dacha. All over again?
Answer: No. The measures applied are usually very effective for the first couple of months.
- I was taking iodantipyrine according to the preventive scheme and I was bitten by a tick, what should I do now?
Answer: Go to the scheme of taking iodantipyrine "After the tick has sucked."
- There is no way to go to the doctor after a tick bite and take it for analysis, I live in a remote village. I seem to feel good. How to be?
Answer: Use iodantipyrine and immunoglobulin as directed in the instructions for use. If a deterioration in health is detected, immediately consult a doctor at the regional department.
- I go far from civilization during the tick activity season. What do you need to do to be safe?
Answer: You just need vaccination. If there is no time, then it is worth taking care of the timely purchase of special repellents and iodantipyrine.
If you are bitten by a tick, you do not need to panic. Not all ticks carry infections. To find out if the insect was infected and, if so, to prevent the disease in time, you need to take it for analysis.
How to store an extracted tick
The longer the tick feeds on blood, digging into the skin, the more infection enters the body. That is why, when a bite is found, you need to quickly consult a doctor to remove it, or, if this is not possible, pull out the tick yourself. But even if it was removed quickly, the risk of infection remains. In any case, you need to hand over the tick for analysis.
Sometimes the tick is detached from the bitten site, in this case, you should focus on the bite mark and well-being
Ticks are removed in emergency rooms at the place of residence around the clock.
Ticks are usually taken alive for research. In some laboratories, PCR diagnostics are carried out, this is a very in-depth study based on the search for fragments of genetic information, therefore, it can be used to find the causative agent of infection even in individual particles of a dead tick. But such a diagnosis is not very common even in large cities. To make the task easier for doctors, we must try to get the tick alive.
To keep the tick alive until analysis, you need to store it in a cool place, in a well-closed jar with wet cotton wool or gauze
A tick pulled out of the skin should be sent for research as soon as possible for a maximum of three days. Prior to that, it is stored in the refrigerator, in a clean glass container (jar, bottle), with a tightly closed lid. Together with the tick, you need to put a piece of cotton wool there, slightly moistened with water.
Where to take the tick for analysis
- if you find a sucked tick or a bitten place, you need to contact the ambulance for advice. They will advise you on how to remove the insect correctly and tell you the address to which you need to carry it;
- you can go to the clinic, the registration must provide the necessary information;
- if the tick was removed independently and Internet access is possible, you can look for the address there. Mostly ticks are taken for analysis in infectious diseases hospitals.
If a person has a compulsory medical insurance policy, government agencies conduct research for free. It must be remembered that they only work on weekdays. On weekends or in the absence of a policy, you can take a tick for analysis to a private laboratory, the cost will depend on the specific organization and infections for which the tick is tested, the average price for a comprehensive study is about 1.5-2 thousand rubles. If money is not enough and there is a question of choice, then first of all you need to do an analysis for tick-borne encephalitis.
Before the onset of heat, it is better to know in advance the addresses and phone numbers of the places where ticks are received and examined.
Results are usually ready the next day, within a maximum of one to two working days.
Even if no infectious agents were found in the tick, you need to monitor your well-being for a month or two, and if you have a temperature, malaise, persistent headache and other symptoms, immediately consult a doctor.
What additional tests are needed
There may be situations where it is impossible to determine the presence of an infection using a tick test. For example, if only the bite site was found or it was not possible to pull out the insect alive. In this case, as well as if the tick is infected, you need to donate blood for analysis. But there is no need to rush to the clinic to donate blood - to determine in this way whether there is an infection, it is possible only some time after the bite. It depends on the disease with which the tick is infected and on the blood test method:
- Analysis using the PCR method for the presence of pathogens of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis is best done 10 days after the bite;
- It is necessary to test the blood for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne encephalitis after 14 days;
- It is necessary to test the blood for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne borreliosis after 21 days.
If only the bite site without a tick is found, it is worth examining the blood for both infections.
These tests are not done in public hospitals because they are rarely required and are not covered by public health insurance. The price in private clinics depends on the specific organization, region, and diagnostic method. On average, it ranges from 500 to 2 thousand rubles.
If, after donating blood for analysis, you feel unwell, you should consult a doctor without waiting for the results.
If the test results are positive, you must contact an infectious disease specialist within 3-4 days after receiving them. You also need to go to the doctor if:
- the bite site turns red;
- the temperature has risen;
- headache or other parts of the body;
- there is vomiting, dizziness.
The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. A specialist consultation is required!
Ticks, which are found in the territories of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, as well as the countries of Eastern and Western Europe, can stick to the skin of a person of any age and gender in order to obtain blood. Fresh human blood is necessary for ticks to start the breeding cycle, so these insects literally cannot do without humans. In this sense, ticks are like mosquitoes, which also require human blood to reproduce.but tick bites, unlike most mosquitoes, it is not harmless, since these insects are carriers of several dangerous infectious diseases. Therefore, after a bite, it is necessary to take a number of actions aimed at preventing the development of serious infectious diseases with which the tick could infect a person.
In Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Western and Eastern Europe and the United States, ticks are vectors and, accordingly, when bite can infect a person with the following infections:
- Tick-borne encephalitis;
- Borreliosis (Lyme disease);
- Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever;
- Omsk hemorrhagic fever;
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
Other infections (hemorrhagic fevers) are common only in certain regions, so they can be infected if a person is bitten by a tick that lives in the area. And since the ticks do not leave their habitat, moreover, they practically do not budge throughout their life, spending it often on the same bush, it is possible to become infected with hemorrhagic fevers only if a tick located in the region with the prevalence of these infections. Accordingly, the person himself should also be in a region where hemorrhagic fevers carried by local ticks are common.
So, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever distributed only in Crimea, on the Taman Peninsula, in the Rostov region, southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Bulgaria. Omsk hemorrhagic fever distributed in the territories of Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Tyumen and Orenburg regions. Also, sometimes ticks-carriers of Omsk hemorrhagic fever are found on the territory of Northern Kazakhstan, Altai and Krasnoyarsk territories. Hemorrhagic fever reservoir with renal syndrome is located in all countries of Europe and Asia, but the infection is recorded only in the form of episodic outbreaks and isolated cases of infection.
So, since ticks can infect a person with dangerous infections, we will consider the algorithms of actions that must be taken in various situations after the bite of this insect.
What should I do if bitten by a tick?
Algorithm of actions if bitten by a tick
Regardless of who was bitten by the tick (child, woman, man, elderly person), it is necessary to perform the following manipulations upon detecting this fact:1. Remove the tick in any way possible (see sections below);
2. Treat the place of tick suction with an antiseptic (iodine, alcohol, brilliant green, Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, etc.);
3. Place the tick in a closed container and, if possible, take it for analysis in order to determine whether it is a carrier of infections;
4. Get tested for borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis to determine if infection has occurred after a tick bite;
5. Carry out a preventive intake of drugs, the action of which is aimed at the rapid suppression of an infectious disease transmitted to a person by a tick;
6. Observe your own condition for a month after the tick bite.
When a tick bites, it is imperative to remove the insect as soon as possible and treat the place of its suction to the skin. The rest of the points of the algorithm can be omitted, with the exception of monitoring your own state for a month. If there are any signs of malaise within 30 days after a tick bite, you should see a doctor, as this may be a symptom of tick-borne infections that need to be treated.
It is advisable to place the tick after removing it from the skin in a closed container only if it is possible to transport it to a specialized laboratory for research within a maximum of 24 hours. Such laboratories are usually found in infectious diseases hospitals. However, since in many cities and countries of Europe ticks, in principle, are not examined for whether they are carriers of infections, but they are observing the condition of people after a bite, then packing an insect in a container in most cases is pointless.
In general, identifying whether a tick is a carrier of infections is not necessary, but only necessary for the early accurate determination of the subsequent tactics of the behavior of a bitten person. So, if a tick is "clean", that is, it is not a carrier of infections, then a person can forget about the bite forever, since it does not bear any consequences. If a tick is a carrier of infections, this does not mean that it has necessarily infected a person and needs to wait for the development of the disease. Indeed, in 80% of cases, the bite of an infected tick does not lead to human infection. Therefore, if a person is bitten by an infected tick, it is necessary to monitor his condition for a month and, if possible, take blood tests to determine whether an infection has occurred. That is, the analysis of a tick allows the person himself to adhere to the correct tactics and be prepared for a possible disease, and not rely on "chance".
A more rational (in comparison with putting a tick in the laboratory) tactics of behavior after a bite is to take blood tests in order to find out whether the insect has infected a person with any infection. However, you do not need to donate blood right away, since the tests will be uninformative. No earlier than 10 days after the bite, you can donate blood for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by PCR. If the analysis is carried out by ELISA or Western blotting (immunoblotting), then to detect tick-borne encephalitis, blood should be donated only two weeks after the bite, and borreliosis - after 4 to 5 weeks.
During PCR, the presence of the pathogen in the blood is detected, so this analysis is very accurate. And in the course of ELISA and Western blotting, IgM antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus and the causative agent of borreliosis are detected. The ELISA method is inaccurate because of the high percentage of false positives. Western blotting is reliable and accurate, but it is performed mainly only in private laboratories located in large cities, as a result of which not every person who has been bitten by a tick is available.
If the results of any analysis (PCR, ELISA, Western blotting) are positive, this means that the tick has infected the person with an infection. In this case, you must immediately undergo a course of treatment, which will allow you to cure the disease at an early stage.
You can not be tested, but immediately after the bite, carry out preventive treatment against tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by taking medications. Such treatment in most cases prevents the development of infection, and a person does not get sick, even if the tick has infected him.
Despite the temptation to carry out preventive treatment immediately after the bite in order to protect yourself from the development of infection, if an infection occurs, you should not do this. Doctors and scientists consider the following tactics of behavior after a tick bite to be the most optimal and justified:
1.
Pull the tick out of the skin.
2.
On the 11th day after the bite, donate blood for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by PCR.
If the PCR result is positive for any one or both infections, then medications should be started to prevent the complete development of the disease and its cure at the stage of the incubation period. To prevent borreliosis, antibiotics Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone are taken, and encephalitis - Iodantipyrine or Anaferon. If the result is positive for both infections, then antibiotics and jodantipirin are taken simultaneously for preventive treatment.
If the PCR result is negative, then 2 weeks after the tick bite, blood should be donated to detect tick-borne encephalitis by ELISA or Western blotting. Then, after 4 weeks, donate blood again for detection of borreliosis by ELISA or Western blotting. Accordingly, when a positive test result is obtained, antibiotics or Iodantipyrine should be taken, depending on which infection was detected (encephalitis or borreliosis).
Taking antibiotics and Yodantipirin immediately after a tick bite without testing is justified only in cases where the incident occurred far from civilization (for example, a hiking trip, bike ride, etc.) and it is impossible to get to medical laboratories. In this case, in order to prevent infection with encephalitis and borreliosis, it is necessary to take both antibiotics and Iodantipirin, since it is not known which infection the tick is the carrier of.
General rules for tick removal
If a person of any age and gender has been bitten by a tick, then the first step is to remove the insect as soon as possible, since the longer it is on the skin, the higher the likelihood of contracting infectious diseases. It is necessary to remove the tick from any place on the body, and observing a certain technique, since the insect is very tightly attached to the skin with the help of a proboscis with peculiar processes. These outgrowths make the tick proboscis look like a harpoon, so simply pulling the insect out of the skin will not work (see Figure 1).
Picture 1- The proboscis of a tick in the skin.
For the purpose of removal, do not drip oil, glue, milk onto the tick, cover it with a can and perform any other actions aimed at clogging the spiracles of the insect located on the back of its body. The fact is that when the spiracles are closed, the tick cannot breathe normally, and this makes it aggressive, as a result of which it splashes out its saliva into the blood very intensively and in large quantities. Namely, saliva contains infectious agents that the tick carries. Thus, a blockage of the tick spiracles increases the risk of a person becoming infected with encephalitis or borreliosis.
You can remove the tick with your hands, tweezers, thick thread or special devices of domestic or imported production (Tick Twister, The Tick Key, Ticked-Off, Anti-tick), which are sold in pharmacies or in Medtekhnika stores. These devices have various forms and methods of application, therefore it is recommended to select the optimal type in Medtekhnika and use it as needed. Such devices for removing ticks must be bought in advance and carried with you during various trips to nature. If there are no devices, then you need to remove the tick with the usual improvised means, such as tweezers, thread, or the fingers themselves.
Regardless of how the tick is removed, you must not touch the insect with your bare hands. This is due to the fact that when removed, the tick can be damaged and then the contents of its intestinal tract will get onto the skin, from which it can enter the systemic circulation if any small wounds invisible to the naked eye appear on it. That is, by removing a tick with bare hands, a person increases the risk of contracting various infections. That is why it is necessary to wear rubber gloves on your hands before removing the insect. If you don't have gloves, you can simply wrap your hands with a regular bandage or a clean cloth. Only by protecting your hands in this way, you can begin to remove the tick from the skin.
After removing the tick, it is necessary to disinfect the wound by treating it with any available antiseptic, for example, iodine, Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, calendula tincture or alcohol. It is optimal to treat the wound left by the tick with alcohol or iodine. After treatment, the skin is left without a bandage. If a person wants to donate a tick for analysis to determine whether it is a carrier of any infection, then the insect must be placed in a jar along with a piece of cotton wool moistened with water, the container must be closed and stored in the refrigerator. If a person does not want to give the tick for analysis, then the removed insect can simply be burned in the flame of a match, lighter or fire, or crushed with shoes.
Consider how to properly remove a tick in various ways.
Removing a tick with the Tick Twister
This is the best tool for removing ticks for two main reasons. Firstly, Tick Twister allows in 98% of cases to completely remove the tick without tearing it and thus leaving the insect head in the skin. This is a very important advantage, since the head remaining in the skin will have to be removed with a needle, like a splinter, which is rather painful and unpleasant. In addition, the head of the tick remaining in the skin is a source of pathogenic microbes that the insect carries. And, accordingly, the head of the tick located in the skin continues to be a source of infection for humans.Secondly, the use of the Tick Twister avoids pressure on the digestive tract of the tick, as a result of which there is no risk of splashing out large amounts of insect saliva containing infectious agents. When using tweezers, thread or fingers, there is often strong pressure on the tick's digestive tract, causing it to inject large amounts of saliva into the skin, which contains tick-borne pathogens. Accordingly, this saliva spray increases the risk of contracting an infection if it has not already happened.
In addition, the Tick Twister is very easy to use and does not hurt during the tick removal process.
Using the Tick Twister is very simple: you need to grab the tick between the teeth of the device, then turn it around its axis counterclockwise 3 - 5 times and easily pull it towards you (see Figure 2). After a few turns counterclockwise, the mite is easily pulled out of the skin. After removing the tick, the place of its suction is treated with iodine or alcohol.
Picture 2- Rules for using the Tick Twister.
How to remove a tick with The Tick Key
This device allows in most cases to successfully remove the tick without tearing it apart, and also not to put pressure on its digestive tract, preventing the release of saliva into the blood. However, The Tick Key in its characteristics is somewhat worse than the Tick Twister, since it is inconvenient to use it on some hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as groin and axillary folds, the area under the breast in women, etc.There are three steps to using The Tick Key to remove the tick (see Figure 3):
1.
Place the device on the skin so that the tick is inside the large hole;
2.
Move The Tick Key, without lifting it from the skin surface, so that the tick gets into a small hole;
3.
Turn The Tick Key counterclockwise 3 - 5 times, then pull the tick towards you.
After removing the tick, the place of its suction is treated with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 3- Rules for using The Tick Key for tick removal.
Tick removal with the Ticked-Off tool
The Ticked-Off device is as convenient and practical as the Tick Twister, however, unfortunately, in most cases it can be bought in the CIS countries only through online stores.Ticked-Off to remove a tick should be used as follows: place the spoon vertically against the skin, then push the protruding part of the tick into the hollow. Having fixed the tick in this way, turn the device 3 - 5 times around its axis counterclockwise, then easily pull it towards you (see Figure 4). After removing the tick, the place of its suction is treated with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 4- Rules for using Ticked-Off for tick removal.
Rules for removing a tick using the Anti-tick device
The anti-mite is a special wire tweezers (see Figure 5) that allows you to securely grip the mite and, at the same time, not press on its digestive tract, which ensures quick, effective and safe removal of the insect from the skin.
Figure 5- Anti-tick device.
To remove a tick with the Anti-tick device, you must capture the insect as close to the surface of the skin as possible. To do this, you need to push the tips of the tweezers apart by pressing your thumb and forefinger on the middle of the tweezers and place them so that the tick's head is between them. Then you should stop pressing on the middle of the tweezers, allowing its tips to close around the tick. After that, it is necessary to turn the device 3 - 5 times counterclockwise around its axis and easily pull it towards you.
After removing the tick, it is necessary to treat the place of its suction with iodine or alcohol.
Tick removal rules with tweezers
In order to remove the tick with tweezers, you need to grab it by closing the tips of the instrument as close to the skin surface as possible. Then, keeping the tick in the grip, it is necessary to turn it around its axis counterclockwise 3 - 5 times. After that, you need to easily pull on the insect, which should easily come out of the wound. If the tick cannot be pulled out, then you should turn it counterclockwise a few more times and pull it again. After removing the tick, the place of its suction must be treated with iodine or alcohol.Rules for removing a tick with a thread
First, you should slightly press your fingers on the skin in the area of the sucked tick, as if trying to squeeze out a pimple. After that, take a strong thread 15 - 30 cm long and make a loop in the middle with a diameter of 2 - 3 cm. Then put the loop on the skin so that a tick gets into it. Tighten the loop firmly, connect both ends of the thread into one and start twisting with your fingers counterclockwise. When the thread is tightly twisted, pull it towards you, and the tick will easily be removed from the wound (Figure 6). Treat the wound remaining in the place of the tick with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 6- Removing a tick with a thread.
Finger tick removal rules
Wear gloves on your hands, or cover your fingers with several layers of bandage or a clean cloth. Then, with protected fingers, grab the tick and turn it around its axis counterclockwise 3 - 5 times. After that, pull the tick towards you, and it will easily be removed from the wound. Treat the place where the tick is sucked with iodine or alcohol.Rules for removing tick residues from the wound
If it was not possible to remove the tick completely, and any parts of its body (most often the head with a proboscis) remained in the skin, then they must be pulled out. If the remnants of the tick are not removed, then an abscess may form on the skin or there will be a long-term ongoing inflammation that does not go away until the parts of the insect's body come out on their own.Removing the remnants of a tick from a wound is done in the same way as a splinter is removed, that is, using a needle. The needle is pre-sterilized by treating it with hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or holding it in a flame for 1 - 2 minutes. Then, with a sterilized needle, the remnants of the tick are removed from the wound and treated with iodine or alcohol.
How and how to treat the tick bite site?
After the mite has been removed from the skin, it is necessary to treat the area with any antiseptic. Alcohol and iodine are best suited for this purpose, however, you can use hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine, and brilliant green, etc. Any available antiseptic is poured onto a piece of clean cotton wool and abundantly lubricate the wound left after removing the tick. After this treatment, the skin is left open and not bandaged.Redness, swelling and itching may persist at the site of the tick bite for 3 weeks. In this case, it is recommended to daily lubricate the inflamed area with iodine and calendula tincture, and take any antihistamine inside (for example, Erius, Telfast, Suprastin, Fenistil, Tsetrin, etc.).
How to transport a tick to the laboratory for analysis?
To transport the tick to the laboratory, it is necessary to place a live insect in a container that can be tightly closed, for example, in a jar with a lid, etc. In a container with a mite, be sure to put a small piece of cotton wool moistened with water. Until the very moment of transportation, the container with the tick must be kept in the refrigerator. Remember that only a live mite is suitable for analysis, so if the insect died during the removal from the skin, then it makes no sense to transport it to the laboratory.How and what tests to take after a tick bite to detect tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis at the stage of the incubation period?
Currently, the following blood tests are performed to determine whether a tick has infected a person with encephalitis or borreliosis:- Venous blood to determine the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and borrelia by PCR (the analysis is taken no earlier than 11 days from the moment of the bite, since before that it is not informative).
- Venous blood for the determination of antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus type IgM by ELISA (the analysis is taken at least 2 weeks after the bite).
- Venous blood for the determination of antibodies to borreliosis virus type IgM by ELISA (the analysis is taken at least 4 weeks after the bite).
- Venous blood for the determination of various variants of antibodies (VisE, p83, p39, p31, p30, p25, p21, p19, p17) to tick-borne encephalitis virus of the IgM type by Western blotting (the analysis is taken at least 2 weeks after the bite).
- Venous blood for the determination of various variants of antibodies (VisE, p83, p39, p31, p30, p25, p21, p19, p17) to the IgM borreliosis virus by Western blotting (the analysis is taken at least 4 weeks after the bite).
To identify latent tick-borne infections, it is recommended to be tested twice after a tick bite. The first time at the time indicated for each method (after 11 days for PCR, after 2 or 4 weeks for ELISA and Western blotting), and the second time - one month after the first analysis. Both times you should donate blood for analysis by the same method. For example, if the first analysis was submitted for PCR, and then the second should be performed by the same PCR method. Moreover, the second time the analysis is submitted only if the results of the first were negative.
If the first and second tests for both infections turn out to be negative, then the tick has not infected the person. In this case, you can simply forget about this unpleasant episode in your life. If the second analysis turns out to be positive, then you should undergo a course of preventive treatment, which will suppress the disease at the stage of the incubation period.
If the first analysis showed a negative result for one of the infections and positive for the second, then the tactics change somewhat. To prevent the detected infection, the test for which turned out to be positive, they drink the necessary drugs (Iodantipirin for encephalitis and Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone for borreliosis). For the second infection, the test for which turned out to be negative, a second test is taken one month after the first. Accordingly, with a negative analysis, you can completely relax and forget about the tick bite. And with a positive analysis - to undergo a course of preventive treatment with the necessary drugs.
How and what medications to take after a tick bite to prevent the development of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis?
To prevent the development of borreliosis
after a tick bite, a person of any age and gender needs to take two antibiotics: - Doxycycline - 100 mg 1 time per day for 5 days;
To prevent the development of encephalitis in people of any age and gender, after a tick bite, there are two main methods:
- Serum injection - performed in a clinic or hospital, and only in the first 72 hours after the bite. Serum administration at a later date is useless.
- Reception of Yodantipyrin by people over 14 years old and Anaferon for children under 14 years old.
Today, a fairly effective and safe method of preventing tick-borne encephalitis after a tick bite is taking Yodantipyrine or children's Anaferon, depending on the age of the victim. Yodantipyrine after a tick bite, adults and adolescents over 14 years of age should be taken according to the following scheme: in the first two days, 3 tablets 3 times a day, in the next two days, 2 tablets 3 times a day, and then within 5 days, 1 tablet 3 times a day.
Children's Anaferon give to all children and adolescents under 14 years old after a tick bite in order to prevent tick-borne encephalitis. Children under 12 years old are given 1 tablet 3 times a day, and adolescents 12-14 years old - 2 tablets 3 times a day. Anaferon for children in the indicated dosages should be given to children within 21 days after a tick bite.
What to do at home if bitten by a tick?
At home, after a tick bite, you must first remove the insect from the skin and treat the remaining wound with an antiseptic (iodine or alcohol). After that, if there is an opportunity to pass tests on time - after 11 days for PCR, after 2 and 4 weeks for ELISA and Western blotting. However, if for some reason it is impossible to pass tests, then immediately after a tick bite, it is recommended to drink a course of antibiotics (Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone) and Yodantipyrine (for adults) or children's Anaferon (for children) in order to prevent tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Antibiotics and Yodantipirin or children's Anaferon can be taken simultaneously, each according to its own scheme. Moreover, taking medications should be started as early as possible after a tick bite.What to do if a child is bitten by a tick?
If a tick has bitten a child, then the algorithm of actions is exactly the same as for an adult. That is, first of all, you need to remove the tick from the skin and treat the suction site with iodine or alcohol. Then, at the appropriate time, pass tests for the presence of infections in his body. Accordingly, if the test result turns out to be positive, carry out a course of preventive treatment of the child with the necessary drugs (Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone for borreliosis and Anaferon for children for tick-borne encephalitis). If the test result is negative, then a month later, take them again. Accordingly, if the second analysis turns out to be negative, then you can forget about the tick bite, and if it is positive, then a course of treatment can be carried out.In the case when it is impossible to pass tests, it is recommended to start giving the child both antibiotics (Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone) and Anaferon for children as soon as possible after a tick bite in order to prevent the development of encephalitis and borreliosis. Antibiotics are given in age-specific dosages, with Doxycycline within 5 days and Ceftriaxone within 3 days. Anaferon for children is given for 21 days, 1 tablet 3 times a day for children under 12 years old, and 2 tablets 3 times a day for adolescents 12-14 years old.
What to do if a pregnant woman is bitten by a tick?
If a tick has bitten a pregnant woman, then it should be removed from the skin and the wound should be treated with iodine or alcohol. Then, in the required time frame, it is recommended to pass tests for the presence of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Further, if borreliosis is detected, then during pregnancy of 16 - 20 weeks, Amoxiclav should be drunk for 21 days, taking 625 mg 3 times a day.For the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, pregnant women should not take any medications, and all that remains is to wait and observe their own condition. If there are signs of encephalitis (fever, headache, etc.) or feeling unwell within a month after the tick bite, you should immediately consult a doctor, be hospitalized and receive the necessary treatment. No more action is needed after a tick bite by a pregnant woman.
What to do if bitten by an encephalitis tick?
If an encephalitis tick has bitten, then it is optimal to prevent the development of an infection that has already entered the body, drink a course of Yodantipyrine (adults and adolescents over 14 years old) or children's Anaferon (children under 14 years old).Iodantipirine should be taken by all people over the age of 14 according to the following scheme:
- 3 tablets 3 times a day for the first 2 days;
- 2 tablets 3 times a day for the next 2 days;
- 1 tablet 3 times a day for the next 5 days.
Children's Anaferon is given to all adolescents and children under 14 years of age for 21 days. Moreover, children under 12 years old are given 1 tablet 3 times a day, and adolescents 12-14 years old - 2 tablets 3 times a day.
What to do if bitten by a borreliosis tick?
If a borreliosis tick has bitten, then to prevent the development of the disease, it is recommended to drink a short course of antibiotics according to the following scheme:- Doxycycline - 100 mg 1 time per day for 5 days;
- Ceftriaxone - 1000 mg 1 time per day for three days.
The tick bit, but did not suck
If the tick has bitten, but did not have time to suck, then you should simply treat the wound with an antiseptic (iodine, alcohol, etc.). You do not need to take any more action, since during the bite the tick does not have time to infect a person with infections. Indeed, for the transmission of borreliosis or encephalitis to a tick, it is necessary to be in the skin for at least 6 hours. Bitten by a tick - where to go?
If you are bitten by a tick, you should contact an infectious disease doctor at the clinic at your place of residence. In addition, you can contact the Centers for Epidemiology and Prevention (former sanitary stations), available in regional cities and district centers. In the cities of Siberia, where ticks are widespread and often bite people, there are specialized centers for the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne infections. If a person lives in Siberia, then you should find out where such a center is located in the nearest city and contact there.First aid for a tick bite
First aid for a tick bite is to remove it from the skin and treat the remaining wound with an antiseptic (iodine, alcohol, etc.). To relieve itching and inflammation at the site of the bite, you can take any antihistamine (Fenistil, Suprastin, Telfast, Tsetrin, etc.).What to do if the temperature rises after a tick bite
If the temperature rises after a tick bite, you must consult a doctor and be tested for borreliosis and encephalitis. If the tests are negative, then you do not need to worry, because after a tick bite, a person can keep a temperature of up to 37.8 o C for a month.What to do if redness appears on the skin after a tick bite?
Redness on the skin after a tick bite can be a symptom of an early stage of borreliosis or an allergic reaction. It is not always possible to quickly distinguish between what caused the redness in each case - an allergic reaction or borreliosis. Therefore, when redness appears, it is recommended to take antihistamines (Suprastin, Fenistil, Claritin, Parlazin, etc.). If, under the influence of antihistamines, the redness significantly decreases in size within a few days, this means that an allergic reaction has taken place, which will completely disappear within a month. If, under the influence of antihistamines, the redness practically does not decrease, then this means that it is very likely that a person develops borreliosis. In such a situation, it is necessary to pass tests for borreliosis, and in case of positive results, immediately begin treatment.Ticks are carriers of many diseases, including tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), rickettsioses and other infections.
Found a sucked tick - remove it as soon as possible!
It is impossible to delay the removal. The longer the tick drinks blood, the more infection will enter the body.
Tick removal
If you plan to take a tick for analysis, then it is advisable to remove the tick alive and whole, as a rule, only such are taken. To avoid tearing the tick, do not pull it abruptly.It is convenient to remove ticks with tweezers. In this case, the tick should be grasped as close to the proboscis as possible, then gently pulled up, while rotating around its axis in a convenient direction. Usually, after 1-3 turns, the tick is removed entirely together with the proboscis.
If you have neither tweezers nor a special device at hand, then you can simply grab the tick with a piece of bandage, gauze or cotton wool and proceed as described above.
There is a method to remove the tick with a thread. To do this, a strong thread is tied into a knot as close as possible to the tick proboscis, then twisted in one direction (pulling up a little) until the tick is twisted. This method is not always convenient, especially for self-removal and extraction of ticks from animals.
If the tick has sucked in an inconvenient place for its extraction, and no one can help you, remove it as best you can, even if it breaks, this is better than spending a long time looking for help.
If, when removing a tick, its head or part of it came off, this is not scary, but it is worth considering that the tick particles remaining in the skin can cause inflammation or suppuration. Also, if the head is torn off, the infection process can continue.
The head remaining in the skin looks like a black point. The place where the tick is sucked is wiped with cotton wool moistened with alcohol, and then the remaining parts of the tick in the skin are removed with a sterile needle (for example, calcined over a fire), as you would remove a common splinter.
The tick does not need to be smeared with oil or anything else. Even if the tick comes out on its own, you will waste time, because physical removal will be faster. In addition, such a tick may not be accepted for analysis.
After removing the tick, the skin at the site of its suction is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol, no dressing is required.
What is the threat of a tick bite?
Even if the tick bite was short-lived, the risk of contracting tick-borne infections is not excluded.The tick should be placed in a small glass bottle along with a piece of cotton wool slightly moistened with water. Be sure to close the bottle with a tight cap and store it in the refrigerator. For microscopic diagnostics, the tick must be delivered to the laboratory alive. Even individual tick fragments are suitable for PCR diagnostics. However, the latter method is not widely used even in large cities.
You need to understand that the presence of an infection in a tick does not mean that a person will get sick. The analysis of a tick is needed for calmness in case of a negative result and vigilance - in case of a positive one.
The surest way to determine the presence of a disease is to take a blood test. It is not necessary to donate blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. Not earlier than 10 days later, you can test the blood for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by PCR. Two weeks after a tick bite for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne encephalitis virus. For antibodies (IgM) to borrelia (tick-borne borreliosis) - in a month.
Q: I took off the tick, it looks like it just started to stick, is there a risk of getting sick and what?
A: There is a risk of contracting tick-borne infections even with a short-term tick suction.
It will not be possible to unequivocally answer the question of what can be infected, since ticks carry different infections in different regions.
The most dangerous disease transmitted by ticks is considered, annually Rospotrebnadzor publishes lists, for other infections such information, unfortunately, is not published.
In the southern regions of Russia, the most dangerous disease carried by ticks is.
There are other diseases, so if you feel unwell, see your doctor right away.
Q: I was bitten by a tick, two weeks have passed since the bite, I felt good, and today my temperature rose, what should I do?
A: Feeling unwell may not be associated with a tick bite, but tick-borne infections cannot be ruled out. Be sure to see a doctor.
Redness of the tick bite
Q: They removed the tick, the bite site turned red almost immediately. What does it mean?A: Most likely, this is an allergic reaction to the bite, inspect the bite site daily, if you notice an increase in the spot, soreness of the bite site or a deterioration in general well-being, consult a doctor.
Q: They removed the tick, but after a few days the bite site was swollen, it hurts to touch.
A: You need to see a surgeon.
Q: They removed the tick, at first the bite site was a little red, then the redness passed, and today, two weeks after the bite, it turned red again.
A: You should see an infectious disease doctor. Very often, the early stage of the disease with tick-borne borreliosis is accompanied by the occurrence at the site of the bite.
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Q: I live in a region endemic for tick-borne encephalitis. Yesterday I was bitten by a tick, noticed it in the evening, immediately removed it and took it to the laboratory for analysis. Today they called from the laboratory, they said that the tick-borne encephalitis virus was found in the tick and that I needed to drink a course of iodantipyrine. What else can be done to prevent tick-borne encephalitis? Very worried.A: You should not worry too much, since the bite of an infected tick does not mean that a person will get sick (even without prophylaxis). Iodantipyrine, along with approved for use for the emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis. You can also recommend a balanced diet during the incubation period of EC, try to avoid any stressful situations for the body (overheating, hypothermia, heavy physical exertion, etc.).
V .: I was bitten by a tick, I threw it out, and now I'm worried - suddenly the tick was encephalitis. When can I donate blood for analysis?
О .: It makes no sense to donate blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. Not earlier than after 10 days, you can test the blood for tick-borne encephalitis by PCR. Two weeks later, for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne encephalitis virus.
Q: I am pregnant (10 weeks). Bitten by a tick - what to do to prevent tick-borne encephalitis?
Q: I was bitten by a tick, I pulled it out. I am very worried, but there is no way to go to a doctor (I am far from civilization), there is no way to buy medicines. How to be?
A: Most people who have not received emergency prophylaxis do not get sick with a tick bite infected with tick-borne encephalitis. Since you don't even know if the tick was infected or not, you shouldn't panic. Try to find a way to see a doctor if you feel unwell.
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Man is the king of nature, but in reality our relations with flora and fauna are not going well: the "royal person" does irreparable harm to the environment, but nature does not remain in debt, sending, for example, "hunting" arthropods arachnids, then there are ticks. The bites of these pests can be very dangerous to health, and it is almost impossible to protect yourself and your loved ones from a possible threat, especially in summer, so it remains to arm yourself with an algorithm of actions if the tick does bite.
What are the dangers of a tick bite?
Video: what you need to know about the consequences of a tick bite - recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky
What does a tick bite look like?
A tick bite looks like a dotted speck with redness around it, which occurs as a result of an allergic reaction to the tick's saliva, which it secretes for anesthesia and to prevent blood clotting. 
A red spot around the puncture site is the result of an allergic reaction to the tick's saliva.
Sometimes a small black dot can be observed at the site of the bite. This suggests that as a result of some unsuccessful manipulations, the tick's head fell off and remained on the skin. In this case, the first thing to do is to remove the foreign body. After the affected area of the skin has been treated with alcohol, we clean the wound with a disinfected needle and lubricate it with iodine or alcohol.
Two options for the consequences of contact with a bloodsucker
Tick bite symptoms
- temperature;
- chills;
- muscle pain;
- aches (which, by the way, is perceived by many as a sign of a cold after a vacation in nature);
- increased sleepiness;
- discomfort on contact with light.
The listed symptoms may appear within 2-4 hours after the bite. On average, they appear 1-3 weeks after infection. 
Symptoms may appear several days after the bite
Symptoms in Sensitive People
- severe migraine;
- unhealthy blush;
- nausea, diarrhea;
- temperature rise up to 39 degrees;
- redness of the eyes;
- hoarse breathing;
- hallucinations.
Is it possible to identify a sterile or encephalitis tick by its appearance?
What to do after bite detection
How to find a laboratory
The analysis procedure is carried out in:
- a clinic or hospital with the necessary equipment;
- private laboratories researching viruses;
- Rospotrebnadzor Center.
You can find out the address of a specific organization that accepts ticks for research at the registry of the local clinic.
To find out the address of the nearest laboratory examining ticks for the carrier of infections, you need to contact the nearest clinic How to save material for analysis
Instructions:
- We moisten the cotton wool with water.
- We put it on the bottom of a container with a tight-fitting lid.
- We place the tick in the vessel.
- We store in the refrigerator at temperatures up to +5 degrees for no more than one and a half days.
For PCR research, it is possible to use parts of a tick. But this type of analysis is rarely used.
What tests need to be passed to a person
If the tick studies showed a positive result, or if the bite tick could not be saved, the victim should visit an infectious disease doctor, who, after examining the bite site, will prescribe tests. The material for the study is the patient's blood serum. 
For analyzes, the blood of a victim of a tick bite is examined
Table: types of tests that are prescribed for a tick bite
| Study | Peculiarities |
| Immunofluorescence (MFA) | It is done everywhere, the simplest and cheapest method of analysis. Infectious agents in a fluorescent microscope will glow like fireflies. |
| Immunoassay diagnostics (ELISA) | Gives the most accurate result, detects infection at an early stage. |
| Western blot | Reliably shows infection with borreliosis and encephalitis. Appointed to confirm the results of other studies. |
| PCR (polymerase chain reaction method) | Often shows a false result for encephalitis infection. For reliable diagnosis, several PCR systems should be used (blood tests, skin cells, urine, cerebrospinal and articular fluid). |
If the first cycle of analyzes gave negative results, but for their final confirmation, you can repeat the diagnostic procedures after a month.
If the tick did not have time to bite, you do not need to be tested. 
The most reliable result can be obtained by passing several tests at once.
First aid for a tick bite
Video: how to extract a tick in the field
Nuances of emergency preventive vaccination
Video: why ticks are dangerous and whether vaccination saves from tick-borne encephalitis - expert opinions
Emergency vaccination conditions
Immunoglobulin injections after a tick bite are given if:
It is interesting. If the victim was vaccinated for preventive purposes, then the doctor should be sure to tell about this so that he can correctly calculate the dose of immunoglobulin.
Emergency vaccination is done as prescribed by a doctor or at the initiative of a patient, if there are no contraindications to this Contraindications
There are a number of cases when the immunoglobulin is not tested before the test results are obtained. These include.